Mental Health Support for New Jersey’s First Responders Involved in the Hurricane Katrina Rescue and Recovery Effort

Returning from a traumatic event can cause a variety of mixed feelings, including shock and denial. These are normal protective reactions but can worsen as time goes on. As the initial shock wears away, reactions can surface, including feeling numb and dazed and even experiencing unclear thoughts.

One year after Hurricane Katrina, New Jersey’s First Responders may still be experiencing reactions such as:

• A re-experiencing of feelings and thoughts that occurred a year ago
• Avoiding situations, people, or places that are reminders of the event
• Feeling nervous, irritable, or jumpy, and having difficulty sleeping
• Physical symptoms such as fatigue, pain, headaches, or stomachaches

Understanding these NORMAL reactions to ABNORMAL events can help you cope effectively with your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and help you along the path to recovery.

It takes courage to help others – it takes more courage to help yourself. Please call one of the following helpline resources available for law enforcement professionals, firefighters, emergency service personnel, and other first responders deployed to help with the clean up after Hurricane Katrina:

• 1-877-294-HELP (4357) -- New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services
• 1-866-COP-2COP (1-866-267-2267) -- UMDNJ - University Behavioral HealthCare
• 1-866-NJF-DEMS (1-866-653-3367) -- UMDNJ - University Behavioral HealthCare

Or on the web at:

• www.disastermentalhealthnj.com
• www.cop2coponline.org
• http://ubhc.umdnj.edu/fire_ems/